Strategic treatment of anovular dairy cows with GnRH.
The primary objective was to evaluate fertility of anovular dairy cows given GnRH 4 d after first postpartum timed AI (TAI). Secondary objectives were to determine ovulatory response to treatment, effect of treatment on serum progesterone (P(4)) concentrations, and the proportion with a short luteal phase. Lactating Holstein cows (n=1047) were submitted for first postpartum TAI using a Presynch+Ovsynch protocol. Anovular cows were identified from an initial 1047 lactating Holstein cows using transrectal ultrasonography, based on the absence of a CL at the first GnRH injection of a Presynch+Ovsynch protocol, and anovular cows were randomly assigned to receive either no further treatment (Control, n=85), or 100 microg of GnRH 4 d after TAI (GnRH treated; n=71). For GnRH treated cows, 51% responded by ovulating a follicle in response to GnRH treatment 4 d after TAI; however, pregnancies per AI (P/AI) did not differ between GnRH treated cows that ovulated (36%) compared to GnRH treated cows that did not ovulate (21%). There was a quadratic effect of P(4) at the PGF(2 alpha) injection of Ovsynch on P/AI, and cows with P(4)>or=1 ng/mL at the PGF(2 alpha) injection of Ovsynch had greater P/AI (41%) than cows with P(4)<1 ng/mL (12%); however, no treatment difference was detected. Overall, P/AI did not differ between control (30.1%) and GnRH treated (29.6%) treatments for synchronized cows. Although treatment of anovular cows with GnRH 4 d after TAI failed to improve fertility, variation among cows in serum P(4) at the PGF(2 alpha) injection of Ovsynch dramatically affected fertility of anovular dairy cows.
Sterry
R A
RA
Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, United States.
Silva
E
E
Kolb
D
D
Fricke
P M
PM
D000818:Animals; D000858:Anovulation / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D004973:Estrus Synchronization / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007246:Infertility; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011374:Progesterone